Infiniivivormid

Infiniivivormid, or infinitive forms, are non-finite verb forms used in Estonian to name actions without tying them to a specific subject, person, or tense. They function as the base forms of verbs and can appear in clauses, noun phrases, and compound constructions. Infinitives help express purpose, intention, or general statements about actions.

Formation and variants

Infinitives in Estonian are typically formed by adding a suffix such as -ma or -ta to the verb stem. The exact ending depends on phonological rules and the stem’s properties, and some verbs have irregular infinitive forms. The two common endings cover a wide range of verbs, enabling the language to express a broad spectrum of non-finite actions. Infinitives are not conjugated for person or number, and their form remains constant across sentences.

Uses

Infinitives are versatile in usage. They can express purpose or intention in combination with a finite verb, as in Ma lähen poodi ostma. (I am going to the store to buy [something].) They also appear in noun-like functions, where the action is treated as a concept rather than as a predicate, for example Lugemine on minu hobiks. (Reading is a hobby of mine.) Additionally, infinitives form part of various periphrastic constructions with auxiliary verbs and can introduce subordinate meanings without a finite clause, contributing to stylistic and syntactic variety.

Related forms

From infinitives, Estonian often derives deverbal nouns with the suffix -mine, such as lugemine (reading) and kirjutamine (writing). These deverbal nouns retain a close link to the original verb stem while functioning as independent nouns in sentences.

See also

Infinitive mood, participles, non-finite verb forms, nominalization.